THE BEE-KEEPERS' REVIEW 



o 9 ' 



in this outer sliell are quiet ex- 

 cept for an ocasional shifting of 

 position. Inside this ratlier defin- 

 ite sliell the bees between the 

 combs are not so close together 

 nor are they headed in any one 

 way. Considerable movement, such 

 as walking. moving the abdomen 

 from side to side, and rapid fan- 

 ning of the wings, takes place in- 

 side the sphere and when a bee be- 

 comes unusually active the ad- 

 joining bees move away, leaving 

 an open apace in which it can move 

 freely. Two bees may often be 

 seen tugging at each other. In ad- 

 dition to the bees between the 

 combs, placed as above described, 

 others are in the empty cells of 

 the comb on which the cluster is 

 always formed, always with their 

 heads in, A verification of these 

 statements is contained in the fol- 

 lowing observations, and the ex- 

 periment may easily be repeated by 

 anyone. For the purpose of ob- 

 taining a colony without combs 

 for another experiment, a hive was 

 opened December 15, 1913, while 

 the outside temperature was low 

 enough to ca,use the formation of a 

 compact cluster. When the combs 

 were separated the circle of bees 

 in the shell was clearly observed. 

 When a comb from the center of 

 the cluster was shaken the active 

 bees in the center of the circle 

 dropped off readily, and those in 

 the outer shell which were some- 

 what sluggish were removed with 

 more difficulty. After this was 



done those occupying empty cells 

 in the center of the sphere backed 

 out of the cells and were shaken 

 off. Finally those occupying cells 

 in the border of the sphere backed 

 out, showing a well marked circle 

 on the combs. Evidently the bees 

 in the shell, whether in the cells 

 or between the combs, are less ac- 

 tive than those in the interior of 

 the cluster. Naturally such a man- 

 ipulation as this is not to be re- 

 commended, except for the purposes 

 of demonstration. 



It is clear from observations pre- 

 viously recorded that the highest 

 temperatures are those of points 

 in the center of this shell, and 

 this is to be expected, as the heat 

 is generated here. The outer shell 

 constitutes an ideal insulator for 

 the conservation of the heat since 

 the bees arranged so close together 

 form small dead air spaces in their 

 interlacing hairs, especially those of 

 the thorax, and afford still more 

 insulation with their bodies. The 

 abdomens of the bees in the outer 

 row are practically separate one 

 from another, and must often be 

 exposed to severe cold. That this 

 method cf conserving heat is ef- 

 fective is shown by observations 

 on undisturbed colonies out of 

 doors. For example, on January 14, 

 1914, there was at 9 a. m. a dif- 

 ference of 68° F. between ther- 

 mometers 14 (center of sphere) and 

 16 (outside the cluster) of Colony D 



(Continued en page 350) 



The Production of Both Comb and Extracted Honey. 



Is It Advisable? 



Head before the 341 h Animal Convention of The Colorado State 

 15ee-Ke€pers' Ass'n, Denver, Colo. Jan. 20-21, 1914. 



By GEORGE F. LESTER, Delta, Colo. 



I will speak only of my own loca- 

 tion, where the springs are cold 

 and backward and the bees do not 

 build up rapidly. I am a comb honey 

 producer, and I use the extracting 

 outfit that I may get more comb 

 honey. Every comb honey producer 

 in my part of the state knows that 

 about one-half of his colonies will 



In the production of both comb 

 and extracted honey several things 

 are to be considered. First, Loca- 

 tion and climatic conditions. Sec- 

 ond, Will it be more profitable? 

 And are there any benefits to be 

 derived from producing both? Third, 

 Can a person afford to have both 

 outfits?. 



